These free teaching resources and biology practical investigation ideas are referred to directly within the OCR Twenty First Century GCSE Biology specification, for teaching from 2011.

They refer to the biology components taught within the OCR GCSE Twenty First Century Core Science, Additional Science and Triple Science.

Many other practical investigations and resources to support your teaching are available throughout the SAPS website. Please go to Secondary Resources for a filterable index of other resources available.

Module B1

Asexual Reproduction

• Practical: Cauliflower cloning

Genes and inheritance

• Video clip - Variation, inheritance and the work of Mendel.

• Video clip - Muriel Weldale and complex gene interactions

• Video clip - William Bateson and patterns of inheritance

Module B3

Interdependence

• Practical: Eco-column teaching resource

Biodiversity

• Ecology exercise 1: measuring abundance and random sampling

• Ecology exercise 2: the distribution of species across a footpath

Systems in Balance

• Video clip: Light and starch 

Adaptations

• Video clip - Plant adaptations to overcome environmental limitations.

Module B4

Photosynthesis

• Practical: Investigating photosynthesis using immobilised algal balls Includes teaching and technical notes, and an illustrated student worksheet

• Practical: Investigating photosynthesis using Cabomba Includes teaching and technical notes

• Practical: Can leaf discs make starch in the dark? Includes teaching and technical notes, and an illustrated student worksheet

• Video clip: Production of oxygen in plants

• Video clip - chloroplasts and starch

• Video clip - Leaf structure, stomata and carbon dioxide

Plant cells

• Practical: Observing stomata Includes teaching and technical notes

Osmosis

• Observing osmosis using potato, plus the new Chardakov method  Includes teaching and technical notes

Fieldwork

• Ecology exercise 1: measuring abundance and random sampling

• Ecology exercise 2: the distribution of species across a footpath

Module B5

Genes and inheritance

• Video clip - Variation, inheritance and the work of Mendel.

• Video clip - Muriel Weldale and complex gene interactions

• Video clip - William Bateson and patterns of inheritance

Module B7

Enzymes

• Practical: Microscale investigations with catalase  Includes teaching and technical notes

• Practical: Phosphatase enzymes in plants  Includes teaching and technical notes